Page 43

Silently, we all stood and watched as Noemi entered the back room of the beach house. I had plans for us to have a good night since her time in the Grove was coming to an end. We wouldn’t be able to do that with these two niggas staring me in the face, though.

“You nigga’s got something you want to say?” I crossed my arms and eyed them both. I didn’t know if they were trying to intimidate me or not, but I was not easily spooked. “Speak now or forever hold your peace because when Mi comes out of that room, we’re headed out.”

The only thing that could be heard was Dre smacking as he rustled his bag of chips. Shrugging my shoulders, I walked into my kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Twisting the cap off the bottle, I took a sip before turning and coming face to face with Rosier.

“What is it exactly that you’re doing with my sister, Skip?” he asked as he leaned against the kitchen island. “She’s set to be married in a few months, and she’s out here going on dates and shit. What’s going on?”

“You know…” I chuckled as I set the bottle on the counter next to me.

“I was going to be quiet and play the backfield, letting Mi handle her shit like she asked, but since you’re here, I might as well speak my peace.

” Stepping to him, I watched as he kept his eyes on me ever so closely.

“I don’t fuck with the way you’re doing your sister.

She hasn’t told me the entire dynamic of your family, but I know she’s paying for some shit that shouldn’t have anything to do with her. ”

“You said all that to say…” He waved his hand around as if he was bored with the conversation. “Noemi is my concern—not yours. I know what’s best for her and my family. She knows that, and it’s not for me to make you understand.”

Nodding, I stepped back to put some space between us. I was working on expressing myself with my words, and if I swing on this nigga the way I wanted to, I’m going to end up ruining the night shorty and I had planned.

“Bet,” was all I said as I grabbed my bottle to exit the kitchen. “Looks like we have nothing else to discuss.”

“You love her, don’t you?” His words stopped me in my tracks as I entered the living room. Dre paused mid-bite as he heard his cousin. “You’ve fallen in love with my sister.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I gave him a smirk. His face was neutral, but I could see the amusement in his eyes. It was as if he knew the answer, but he wanted me to say the words aloud.

“Mi texted me a couple of months ago and asked me to come see her. I dropped everything and hopped on a jet with no questions asked.” I turned and faced him, taking slow steps in his direction.

“When I got there, she was a crying mess. She was ready to say fuck you and her entire family because of a choice you made for her.” The amusement in his eyes had vanished in that quick second.

“I held her and told her everything would be okay because it would be. Just know that if I have fallen for your sister, it ain’t shit you or that bitch ass fiancé’ of hers can do to stop me from making her mine. ”

We stood nose to nose, having nothing else to say. I knew his stance on Noemi’s life, and now he knew mine. What’s understood doesn’t have to be explained on my end.

“Heard you.” He grinned, stepping back. Offering me his hand, I looked at it for a moment before accepting it. “Just know that if she’s what you want, there may be a few obstacles in the way of being with her.”

“Like I just said, if I want to be with Noemi, ain’t shit standing in the way of me making it happen. When it comes to what or who I want, I’ll go to war about it.”

“Jordie, did you hear me?” Gianna’s little loud ass snapped me from my thoughts of the conversation I had with Rosier at the beach house. “I want to go shopping today! Mimi said it was our world, and you’re the man to give us whatever we want.”

Hearing her snicker to the side of me, I locked eyes with Noemi.

It had been a few days since I snatched her from her nigga’s house, and I’ve been fucking her crazy ever since.

I loved her, and I wasn’t going to deny that shit to her or anyone else.

She was mine, and I was waiting on the day I had to prove it to her pussy ass husband.

I wasn’t dumb by far. I knew he was still calling her phone constantly.

I’m just waiting on him to make his move before I show my ass.

“Is that right?” I reached over the table and wiped the pancake syrup from Gi Baby’s mouth. I decided to take the girls on a breakfast date and to do some shopping. “She didn’t lie; I love y’all, and I’ll definitely do anything for you.”

“Don’t I know it?” Mi said, smirking as she popped a slice of bacon into her mouth. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I owe it all to you.”

Giving her a wink, we continued to eat our food.

She and I were going to have a conversation soon about where we were going from here, but I wanted to do it in private.

We’ve been sexing each other and spending time together, but I needed her to know this shit wasn’t temporary.

I wasn’t in a pussy coma when I told her she was mine.

“I have to go back home soon,” she said as if she were reading my mind. “I have to go back to work and have a conversation with my brother.”

Ignoring her, I said nothing as we finished eating.

Seeing Gianna scarf down her food had my heart clenching.

I hated how my baby felt like she had to hurry and eat her food so no one would take it away or so she wouldn’t miss out on anything.

I wanted to ask her so badly about what she went through with her mother, but I didn’t want to make her sad.

Not only that, I don’t think I can handle the answer if it were something I didn’t want to hear.

With one hand wrapped around Gianna and the other holding onto Mi, I felt like the man as we entered The Galleria.

Mi wasn’t a big shopper, but she didn’t mind making my pockets hurt when the opportunity came.

With school starting in a few weeks and Gianna entering a new school setting, I wanted to make sure my baby was dressed and ready for the occasion.

She told me that kids would often pick on her because of her clothes and shoes being dirty at her old school, and that shit was not happening on my watch.

I would fuck all their little asses up about my baby.

“Let’s go in here,” Mimi said as she pulled us into Gap Kids. “The clothes in here aren’t bad at all for her age.”

“Gap…” I frowned as we walked into the store. “I got money to splurge on my kid’s clothes, Noemi.”

She giggled as she grabbed my daughter’s hand and led us through the store. “I don’t doubt that baby. She’s only six, though… almost seven. She doesn’t need Louie, Prada, and Gucci, Jordan.”

“Yeah, Daddy!” Gianna chimed in like she knew Noemi was right. Her eyes lit up like a candle when she saw the furry animal purses. “Mimi said pretty girls never have to do too much. She said good hygiene, a fresh hairstyle, and some gloss is all I need!”

Stopping in my tracks, my eyes widened at what she said.

Mi was right with what she told her, but I was stuck at the fact that she called me “daddy.” Since day one, it’s been Jordie.

I couldn’t lie if I tried to; I wanted to drop a tear in the semi-crowded store, but I didn’t want to shoot these motherfuckers for witnessing a gangsta cry.

“Come on, big girl!” Noemi giggled as they browsed the racks. “Daddy’s gonna go cry in the car.”

Walking up behind her, I pulled her into me. Instantly, my dick began to harden at the feel of her soft, round ass. “You keep playing with me, and Daddy is going to put something on you that’s going to make you cry too.”

Shuddering when I kissed her neck, I let her go as we began shopping.

The clothes she picked up for Gianna were fly as hell and very age-appropriate.

The various colored graphic shirts and blouses matched Gi Baby’s personality to the T.

Noemi also suggested we get some plain T-shirts in every color so she could accessorize more simple outfits.

The shopping cart was full of shorts, leggings, and jeans, too, and on top lay a lot of colorful jackets, girly purses, and hair accessories.

As long as my baby was happy, I was good.

I was also thankful that Noemi had volunteered to help us get this part of school shopping done.

As I followed them around, I began to feel uneasy. I scanned the store we were in, hoping to see someone or something out of place, but there was nothing. I always trusted my gut, so when I couldn’t locate what was causing the feeling, I knew it was time to bounce.

“Hey, ladies…” I interrupted them as they browsed the kid sandals in Macy’s.

In a split second, they had a buggy full of shit as if they didn’t just buy everything Gi Baby needed in Gap Kids.

“How about we go to the house and watch movies while we finish shopping online? We can make ice cream like we did the other night.”

“But, Daddyyy…” Gianna began to whine and pout. “I wanted to go get another teddy bear for my Uncle Wild. He said I give Uncle Uno the good ones, and he was jealous. Please, Daddy. Just one more store.”

As much as I hated to see my baby sad, I felt the need to get them out of here.

I was about to speak, but Noemi beat me to it.

“How about we go home, have a tea party, and then go online to buy some really nice gifts for Uncle Wild? He likes shoes, so what if we go make him some custom ones that only he has ? He will love that so much!”

“You’re right!” Gianna practically bounced up and down.

“I could make him some with his favorite Disney princesses on it!” Her expression got serious as she stepped to Noemi and whispered, “Don’t tell him I told you, but he likes Cinderella the most. He said her stepmother is an old wench. What’s a wench, Mi?”